Leslie Criss

Leslie Criss is features and special sections editor, and writes an award-winning weekly column. She has worked at the Daily Journal for 14 years. She has three dogs who live at her house: George, a Jack Russell terrier mix; Thom Thumb, a chihuahua; and Sally, a rescued Pug. Her hopes remain high that the generations to come will not one day pick up a newspaper and have to ask, "What is this?" Newspapers rock.

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Stories Written by Leslie Criss

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you […]

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” – Albert Schweitzer “They talked in the shorthand of old friends and shared memories.” – Dee Henderson “When […]

“The bird dares to break the shell, then the shell breaks open and the bird can fly openly. This is the simplest principle of success. You dream, you dare and you fly.” Israelmore Ayivor “I’m youth, I’m joy, I’m a little bird that has broken out of the egg.” James M. Barrie “The sharp thrill […]

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” – Mahatma Gandhi “Blessed are the pacemakers.” – Charles D. Mitchell ––––– From my Arizona-born mother, I inherited much – an […]

“A person whose house is only open on the west can’t see the sun rise at dawn; it’s only seen when the sun sets at dusk. If one tries to compare the color and appearance of the two, one will go on arguing forever …” “The fault lies not with the vision but with the […]

“I think that hate is a feeling that can only exist where there is no understanding.” – Tennessee Williams “Bound in a hollow of space and time, only those truly in need, without harm in their hearts, could find their way to its sanctuary.” – Cate Morgan “I believe that what we become depends on […]

“Anyone who believes what a cat tells him deserves all he gets.” – Neil Gaiman “Cats, as you know, are quite impervious to threats.” – Connie Willis ––––– A reader recently asked me what I have against animals of the feline persuasion. “Why, nothing,” I assured her. “I once owned two cats.” I quickly corrected […]

By Leslie Criss Daily Journal Only days after being feted with a festival in his hometown, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll will be celebrated in New York City’s Central Park. “Elvis Is In the Park” is the theme of Saturday’s 36th annual New York Mississippi Picnic. From noon until 6 p.m., folks from the […]

“I once made a rooster out of beans and lentils when I was a girl in vacation Bible school.” – Juanita, “Sordid Lives” “Zacchaeus was a wee, little man, And a wee, little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see.” – Herman Proper “Do not […]

“If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.” – Napoleon Bonaparte “It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.” – Napoleon Hill “If at first you don’t succeed, remove all evidence that you ever tried.” – Anonymous ––––– I am not a crafty kind of person. Never have […]